FEMA FIRE MANAGEMENT ASSISTANCE APPROVED FOR MONTANA’S LOLO PEAK
FIRE
[https://www.fema.gov/press-release/20210318/fema-fire-management-assistance-approved-montanas-lolo-peak-fire]


Release Date: 
August 17, 2017 

DENVER – The U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Federal
Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) has authorized the use of federal
funds to help with firefighting costs for the Lolo Peak Fire in
Missoula and Ravalli counties in Montana.  

FEMA Region VIII Acting Administrator Nancy Dragani approved the
state’s request for a federal Fire Management Assistance Grant
(FMAG) after receiving the state’s request this afternoon.

At the time of the request, more than 1500 homes and businesses were
immediately threatened.  The fire was also threatening critical
infrastructure in the area.  Mandatory evacuations have occurred for
approximately 750 people and more than 800 people remain under
pre-evacuation notification. More than 15,000 acres has burned and no
part of the fire had been contained. The fire started on July 15 and
was caused by a lightning strike.

The authorization makes FEMA funding available to pay 75 percent of
the state’s eligible firefighting costs under an approved grant for
managing, mitigating and controlling designated fires. These grants DO
NOT provide assistance to individual home or business owners.

Fire Management Assistance Grants are provided through the President's
Disaster Relief Fund and made available by FEMA to assist in fighting
fires that threaten to cause a major disaster. Eligible items can
include expenses for field camps; equipment use, repair and
replacement; mobilization and demobilization activities; and tools,
materials and supplies.